Multiscale and Multiphysics Flow Simulations of Using the Boltzmann Equation: Applications to Porous Media and MEMS

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the kinetic theory for describing flow problems from molecular scale, hydrodynamic scale, to Darcy scale. The author presents various numerical algorithms to solve the same Boltzmann-like equation for different applications of different scales, in which the dominant transport mechanisms may differ.

This book presents a concise introduction to the Boltzmann equation of the kinetic theory, based on which different simulation methods that were independently developed for solving problems of different fields can be naturally related to each other. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of different methods will be discussed with reference to each other. It mainly covers four advanced simulation methods based on the Boltzmann equation (i.e., direct simulation Monte Carlo method, direct simulation BGK method, discrete velocity method, and lattice Boltzmann method) and their applications with detailed results. In particular, many simulations are included to demonstrate the applications for both conventional and unconventional reservoirs. 

 With the development of high-resolution CT and high-performance computing facilities, the study of digital rock physics is becoming increasingly important for understanding the mechanisms of enhanced oil and gas recovery. The advanced methods presented here have broad applications in petroleum engineering as well as mechanical engineering , making them of interest to researchers, professionals, and graduate students alike. At the same time, instructors can use the codes at the end of the book to help their students implement the advanced technology in solving real industrial problems.

Jun Li has been a Research Engineer since May 2014, the Center for Integrative Petroleum Research (CIPR), at CPG of KFUPM, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He had independently proposed the DSBGK method to efficiently and accurately solve the B.G.K equation, a good approximation of the Boltzmann equation, and developed the MPI Fortran software NanoGasSim using the DSBGK method for the pore-scale study of shale gas permeability and gas flows in MEMS and vacuum system at high Knudsen (Kn) number. He also proposed an upscaled lattice Boltzmann method for multiscale simulation of conventional reservoirs.